RC Lens has reached a verbal agreement to bring back Pierre Sage as head coach following the departure of interim manager Yannick Cahuzac, according to reporting from Foot Mercato.
The club moved to secure Sage as their primary target after a difficult start to the season that saw both Dino Toppmöller and his successor, Cahuzac, exit the club. The decision was validated by club president Joseph Oughourlian, who aims to stabilize a team currently sitting in 11th place in Ligue 1, seven points removed from the podium, as reported by La Libre.
The pursuit of Sage intensified after a series of poor results, including a 1-9 loss to Como in the UEFA Champions League and a 1-2 league defeat against Marseille.
Foot Mercato reported that the 47-year-old manager, who previously led Lens to a second-place finish and a Coupe de France title last season, agreed to a salary lower than his previous contract terms with the club. Crystal Palace confirmed on Thursday that Sage has left his managerial role at the English club, clearing the way for his return to the Stade Bollaert.
While Sage remains the priority, Lens officials have established a deadline to finalize the appointment by the end of this weekend. The club’s board intends to provide the new coach with sufficient time to evaluate the squad before their next league fixture against Toulouse FC on November 20.
Speculation regarding other potential candidates has circulated in the French media, including reports linking former Belgium national team coach Rudi Garcia to the post. Mohamed Toubache-Ter reported on November 11 that Garcia had been discussed as an alternative if the negotiations with Sage were to fail.
Pierre Sage, RC Lens ile sözlü anlaşmaya vardı. [Foot Mercato] https://t.co/Ap5OyGlXdW pic.twitter.com/nbYjoiLMUG
However, Walfoot reported that Garcia has publicly dismissed the possibility of taking the job. During an appearance on the Late Football Club, the former Lille manager indicated that he would decline an offer from Lens due to his history with their northern rivals, the LOSC.
Garcia said that a move to the club would be perceived as a betrayal by fans in the region, given his past success as a champion with Lille fifteen years ago.
The transition follows a period of instability for the team. According to La Libre, the club’s leadership recently inscribed the phrase “Never again” on the walls of the dressing room following the heavy defeat to Como.
President Oughourlian acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, “We feel that we are sick. We feel that Wednesday left some scars,” as relayed by the former interim coach Cahuzac following the Marseille match.
The team has struggled with both form and personnel, as injuries to key players like Ismaëlo Ganiou have complicated defensive stability. Despite a successful start to the season, including a Trophée des Champions victory over Paris Saint-Germain, the club has struggled to maintain consistency across all competitions.
The new manager will inherit a group that remains winless in the Champions League and is looking to recover from a sequence of six defeats in nine matches under the previous interim staff.
The RC Lens hierarchy expects to resolve the coaching situation by the end of the week, with the team’s next match scheduled for November 20 at home against Toulouse FC.
